Service station



J. A. DUNN SERVICE STATION sept. 28, 193i Original Filed Aug. 24, 1931ff MM Reissued Sept. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES Re. l 20,519

PATENT OFFICE Original No. 1,858,438, dated May 17, 1932, Serial No.559,001, August 24, 1931. Application for reissue May 7, 1934, SerialNo. 724,446

16 Claims.

This invention relates to service stations, and more particularly to aservice station for the dispensing of motor vehicle products such asgasoline, oil, air, Water and the like, and which is of such aconstruction as to be applicable to and operable upon a minimum area ofground.

'I'he cost of petroleum products, particularly gasoline and oil, to theultimate consumer is greatly enhanced due to the present method ofdistributing such petroleum products. One of the greatest elementsentering into the cost of distribution of petroleum products throughservice stations is the high rents which must be paid for the area ofground utilized in the operation and maintenance of these servicestations. Another great item` of expense in the distribution of gasolineand oil from service stations is the large labor charges occasioned bythe present system of operation. The public has become so accustomed tothe ease of obtaining petroleum products through this system ofdistribution that its elimination at the present time is practicallyimpossible. It is therefore imperative that some means be providedwhereby the overhead and labor charges incident to the distribution ofgasoline and oil through service stations be reduced.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide a service stationwhich is so designed, constructed and operated that it may be maintainedon a relatively small area of ground and which, when so positioned, willoffer no disadvantage to the purchasing public in obtaining theirpetroleum products from such a service station.

Another object of my invention is to provide a service station whichincludes a turntable upon which the motor vehicle to be serviced isadapted to be driven and which turntable is .positioned with relation toa dispensing station so that the motor vehicle, While retained upon theturntable, may be completely serviced and then moved in position toleave the service station Without requiring any eiort upon the part ofthe driver of the motor vehicle.

Another object of my invention is to provide a service station which ismaintainable upon a minimum area of ground and which includes aplurality of turntables positioned with relation to .a centrallydisposed dispensing station, and which turntables are so proportionedand positioned that one table offers no obstruction to the use of theother table or tables, permitting at all times free manipulation of themgotor vehicles upon the parcel of land utilized by the service station,and which turntables are so positioned with relation to the centrallydisposed distributing station that the motor vehicles as mounted on theturntables may be freely manipulated by the operators so that allservice of the cars may be rendered while the motor vehicles arepositioned upon the turntables.

Another object of my invention is to provide a service station whichincludes a turntable upon which a car to be serviced is adapted to bedriven, and which turntable is provided with a novel surface in whichthere is embedded a lifting hoistel enabling the motor vehicle upon theturntable to be elevated in its position with relation to a centrallydisposed distributing station for the purpose of greasing, lubricatingthe vehicle, making repairs therein, or for draining of the lubricant.from the crank case or other portions of the motor vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will beapparent from the following detailed description of apreferredembodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of a service station embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, taken on the line- 2-2 of Figure 1, mainlyin vertical mid-section of the service station illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a detached sectional view of the turntable taken on the line3 3 of Figure 1, particularly in vertical section, taken at rightanglesto the sectional view illustrated in Figure 2.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, l indicates a parcel of land upon which it isdesired to operate and maintain a service station. It is essential thatthis parcel of land be reduced to a minimum number of square feet,particularly on the street frontage side 2 thereof, so that the rentwhich such a service station must pay may be reduced as far as possible.

It is also essential that the service station which is maintained andoperated on the parcel of land be so constructed and operated so as notto Inaterially or in any way interfere with the service rendered thepublic if such service station is to be maintained and operated.

In order to operate and maintain the service station `on the parcel ofland I so as not to interfere with the operation or manipulation of themotor vehicles upon this parcel of land as they are serviced withgasoline and oil, the principal products sold at such service stations,and also so that they may be serviced with Water and air, or given suchother service as may be required or desired by the driver of the motorvehicle, I provide on the parcel of land a plurality of turntables 3 and4 which are positioned on either side' of a centrally disposeddistributing station 5.

Motor vehicles in length and width are of such maximum dimensions as toenable me to operate the service station on the parcel of land, thestreet frontage of which need not exceed 25 feet by the positioning ofthe two turntables: 3 and 4 one to the rear of the other, between whichthe distributing station 5 is positioned.

This enables the free turning of the motor vehicles of the greatestlength and their free manipulation upon the area of land as when themotor vehicle positioned on the turntable 3 is positioned with itslongitudinal sides perpendicular to the street side 2, the motorvehicles desiring access to or from the turntable 4 situated at the rearmay be manipulated upon either side of the motor vehicle positioned onthe turntable 3.

The turntable 3 is preferably positioned at the forward end of the lotor area of land I so that a motor vehicle may be driven straight ontothis turntable in proper position with relation to the distributingstation 5 upon which are mounted the gasoline pumps 6, the oil racks 1,water supply means 8, and the air hoses 9. The distributing station 5 isso positioned that as the motor vehicle is driven onto the turntable 3,the forward end of the motor vehicle: is. immediately adjacent thedistributing station 5. In this position the motor vehicle may beserviced with water and oil and the forward tires may be inated with airfrom the hoses 9. The turntable 3 is then rotated through 186 and therear of the car is then in position adjacent the distributing station 5.The motor vehicle may then be serviced with gasoline and the operator isin position to leave the service station.

While the motor vehicle is being serviced on the turntable 3, anothermotor vehicle may enter the service station to the right of the motorvehicle on the turntable 3 in a direction as indicated by the arrow IIIand may proceed to its position upon the turntable 4. In this positionon the turntable 4 the rear of the motor vehicle is in position adjacentthe distributing station 5 so that this Inotor vehicle is in position tobe serviced with gasoline, if it be of the type carrying the gasolinetank in the rear of the chassis. After the required amount of gasolinehas been placed in the tank of the motor vehicle on the turntable 4, theturntable 4 is rotated through approximately where it is in position toleave the service station in the direction of the arrow I I, the forwardend of the car being headed toward the street.

In this position the motor vehicle on the turntable 4 may be servicedfrom the distributing station 5 with water and oil, and in the twodifferent positions the motor vehicle on the turntable 4 may have itstires inflated as desired. The motor vehicles on both turntables areserviced from the central distributing station 5 and are serviced moreor less in alternate relation so that as one car is receiving gasoline,the other car is receiving oil and water and vice versa, so that oneoperator is enabled to operate and maintain the service required of sucha service station.

This is due to a considerable degree to the fact of the location of thecentral distributing station 5 and to the fact that the operator doesnot have to move from one station to another in order to service themotor vehicles as they are positioned upon the lot.

the rear of the lot I any suitable or desirable forms of buildings 22may be constructed as- In leaving the service station, the motor vehiclefrom the turntable 4 passes to the left of the motor vehicle positionedon the turntable 3 and out into the street.

The turntables 3 and il are rotated from controls positioned withindistributing station 5 which are controlled by the operator of theservice station so that the occupant or driver of the motor vehicle isrequired to do nothing while being serviced at the service station.

The turntables 3 and 4 may be rotated in any suitable or desirablemanner, and I have herein illustrated for the purpose of rotating thetables 3 and 4 reversible electric motors I2, the drive shafts of whichare provided with pinions I3 which mesh with gears i4 carried on theunder surface of the table 4. The controls I5 Jfor operating andreversing the operation of the motors I2 are carried in the distributingstation 5.

In order that the motors I2 may be operated and stopped in the correctposition, I prefer to provide such motors with solenoid brakes which areoperated from the controls I5 to arrest the turntables 3 and 4 in theproper position upon the lot l.

In order that the motor vehicles on the turntables 3 and 4 may becompletely serviced in any manner required by the operator 0f such motorvehicle, the turntables 3 and Il are equipped with hoists I5 which maybe of any suitable or desirable construction. but whichl are preferablyhydraulically operated from an air cylinder I'I. The controls foroperating the hydraulic hoists IS are indicated at I8 as positionedWithin the distributing station 5.

An important feature of my invention is the construction of the tops ofthe turntables 3 and 4 in order that the operator of the motor vehiclemay have denite guides for the position of his motor vehicle thereon. Inorder to accomplish this result, the turntable tops are provided withraised portions I9 which serve as an indicator to the driver of themotor vehicle when the rear wheels of the motor vehicle pass onto theraised portions I9 that the driver of the motor vehicle has his carpositioned properly upon the turntables 3 and 4.

' In addition to the guide thus provided by the raised portion I9 of thesurface of the turntable, the side members 2U of the hydraulic hoist I6serve as visual indicators to guide the operator of the `motor vehiclewhen driving the motor vehicle onto the turntables 3 and 4.

The spread of the side members 20 being less than the transversedistance between the wheels of the motor vehicle, the operator of themotor vehicle merely drives his car over the side members 20 until therear wheels of the motor vehicle pass upon the raised portion I9 of theturntable tops and the operator of the motor vehicle then knows that heis positioned correctly upon the turntables 3 and 4.

In order that the hydraulic hoist I6 may at all times be positioned inproper relation to the motor vehicle upon the turntables 3 and 4irrespective of the position of rotation of the tables 3 and 4, the sidemembers 20 of they hoist are embedded in slots or recesses 2| formed inthe raised portions l5 of the top of the turntables 3 and 4. By thisconstruction the hoists I6 are rotated with the turntables 3 and 4. To

are required for the maintenance and operation of the service station,and for the conveniencev cf the public patronizing the service station.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I donot wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of asubstantially at circular turntable, the upper surface of said tablebeing substantially flush with the surrounding driveway to permitvehicles to drive on and off said table, means to rotate said table, ahoist mounted centrally of said table, and means to support theelevating portion of said hoist independently of the table when saidportion is in elevated position, the hoist when lowered beingconstrained to rotation with the table, and there being sufcientclearance when the hoist is lowered to permit a vehicle to drive on tothe turntable above the hoist.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of asubstantially ilat circular turntable, the upper surface of said tablebeing substantially flush with the surrounding driveway to permitvehicles to drive on and off said table, means to rotate said table, ahoist mounted centrally of said table, means to support the elevatingVportion of said hoist of said table when in lowered position, and meansto support the elevating portion of said hoist independently of thetable when said portion is in elevated position, the hoist when loweredbeing constrained to rotation with the table, and there being sufficientclearance when the hoist is lowered to permit a vehicle to drive on tothe turntable above the hoist.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a.substantially flat circular turntable, the upper surface of said tablebeing substantially ush with the surrounding driveway to permit vehiclesto drive on and oilsaid table, means to rotate said table, a hoistmounted centrally of said table, and means to support the elevatingportion of said hoist independently of the table when said portion is inelevated position, said elevating portion of the hoist being rotatableindependently of the table when in elevated position, and the hoist whenlowered being constrained to rotation with the table, and there beingsuiiicient clearance when the hoist is lowered to permit a vehicle todrive on to the turntable above the hoist.

4. In a service station, the combination of a relatively narrow servicestation lot, of a pair of closely associated turntables positionedthereon in front and rear relation, a distributing station positionedbetween the turntables, and means for rotating the turntables wherebysaid tables may be positioned at such an angle with reference to saiddistributing station as to allow a vehicle approaching said tables froma position in advance of the front table to move on to the rear tablefrom one side of and leave from. the other side of said distributingstation, the relative widths of tables and lot requiring passage of atleast part of the vehicle over the tables in entering and leaving.

5. In a service station, the combination of a turntable having a vehiclepath thereon, a relatively narrow lot having a common entrance and exitand upon which the turntable is mounted, a. distributing stationpositioned on said lot adjacent said turntable, means to rotate theturntable with relation to the distributing station to position avehicle which has been driven onto the turntable from one side of thedistributing station for service from the distributing station, andwhereby the path on said table will be positioned in a directionextending by the other side of the distributing station to allow thevehicle to leave the lot from said other side of the distributingstation through the common entrance and exit, the relative Widths of thelot and turntable being such as to require the rotation of the turntablewith the vehicle thereon in order that the vehicle may be turned around.

6. In a service station, the combination of a turntable, means on theturntable to guide a motor vehicle thereon, a distributing stationadjacent the turntable, a relatively narrow lot having a common entranceand exit upon which the turntable is positioned, means for rotating theturntable to position the opposed ends of the vehicle in servicingposition relative to the distributing station and whereby the vehicleguide on said table may be positioned at such an angle with referenceto` the distributing station as to allow the vehicle to pass thedistributing station in a forwarding direction in leaving the lotthrough the common entrance and exit, the relative widths of the lot andturntable being such as to require the location of the turntable withthe vehicle thereon in order that the vehicle may be turned around.

7. In a service station, the combination of a turntable having acircular top, means on the circular turntable top to guide a motorvehicle thereon, a distributing station adjacent the turntable top, arelatively narrow lot having a common entrance and exit upon which theturntable is mounted, me-ans for rotating the turntable to position anend of the vehicle adjacent the distributing station for servicetherefrom, means on the surface of the turntable for indicating when thevehicle is positioned on the top thereof and whereby said turntable maybe positioned at an angle with reference to said distributing station toallow the vehicle on leaving the lot to pass the distributing stationunder forward direction of motion and through the common entrance andexit, the relative widths of the lot and turntable being such as torequire the location of the turntable with the vehicle thereon in orderthat the vehicle may be turned around.

8. In a service station, the combination of a relatively narrow lothaving a common entrance and exit, a turntable, a hoist mounted axiallyof the turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a distributingstation adjacent the turntable, the relative widthsl of the lot andturntable being such as to require the rotation of the turntable andhoist when a vehicleis positioned thereon to enable the vehicle to beturned end for end for service from the distributing station, and toposition an end of the vehicle when on said hoist with reference to saiddistributing station for service therefrom, and to enable the vehicle toapproach and leave said station moving forwardly through the commonentrance and exit.

9. In a service station, the combination of a relatively narrow lothaving a common entrance and exit, a turntable positioned on the lot, adistributing station adjacent the turntable, the turntable having a top,a raised portion on the top of the turntable and a hoist mounted on theturntable top embedded in the raised portion thereof to turn therewith,means for rotating the turntable whereby said table may be positioned atan angle with reference to the said distributing station to enable thevehicle when on said hoist to be serviced from the distributing stationwhen the hoist is elevated, and to permit the vehicle when the hoist islowered to pass from the lot by the distributing station through thecommon entrance and exit.

10. In a service station, the combination of a relatively narrow servicestation lot, a pair of turntables located on said lot one to the rear ofthe other, a distributing station between the turntables, and means forindependently rotating the turntables with relation to the distributingstation, whereby one of said tables may be positioned at such an angleto said distributing station as to allow a vehicle to move onto the reartable and leave said table on either side of said distributing` station,the relative widths of tables and lot requiring passage of at least partof the vehicle over the tables in entering and leaving, the vehiclesbeing adapted to enter and pass on one side of the lot and leave on theother side of the lot.

11. In .a service station, the combination or a relatively narrow lothaving a common entrance and exit, a pair of closely associatedturntables located on the lot, one to the of the other, a distributingstation positioned between the turntables, hoisting means positionedaxially of said turntables and adapted to rotate with theturntables,rneans for rotating the turntables to enable the vehiclespositioned upon the hoist thereof to be turned end for end for servicefrom the distributing station, and to position the forward ends of thevehicles when the hoists are lowered so as to permit the vehicles inleaving the service station to be driven forwardly through the commonentrance and exit.

12. In a service station, the combination of a relatively narrow lothaving a common entrance and exit, a pair of closely associatedturntables positioned on the lot, one to the rear of the other, adistributing station between the turntables, hoisting means axially ofthe turntables adapted to be rotated with the turntables, means on theturntables for indicating when motor vehicles are positioned thereon,and whereby a vehicle on one of said tables may be positioned at anangle with reference to said distributing station, means for rotatingthe turntable to position an end of the vehicle when on said hoist withreference to said distributing station for service therefrom, and toposition the vehicle on said turntable to permit the vehicle to leavesaid lot when moving forwardly through the common entrance and exit.

13. In a service station, the combination of a relatively narrow lothaving a common entrance and exit, a pair of closely associatedturntables located on said lot, one to the rear of the other, adistributing station between the turntables, hoisting means axially ofsaid turntables and adapted to be rotated with the turntables, means onthe turntables to indicate when the motor vehicles are positionedthereon, means for independently rotating the turntables to position therespective ends of the motor vehicles when elevated by said hoists withrespect to the distributing station for yservice therefrom and toposition said motor vehicles when the hoists are lowered to permit thevehicles to leave the said lot through the common entrance and exit.

lll. In a service station, the combination of a relatively narrowservice station lot, a pair of closely associated turntables located onsaid lot one to the rear of the other, a distributing station betweenthe turntables in position closely adjacent the peripheries of theturntables, and means for independently rotating the turntables withrelation to the distributing station and for returning the turntables totheir initial position, whereby one of said tables may be positioned atany angle to said distributing station to allow a vehicle to move ontosaid table and leave said table on either side of said distributingstation, the relative widthsI of tables and lot requiring passage of atleast part of the vehicle over the tables in entering and leaving, andthe vehicles adapted to enter and pass on one side of the. lot and leaveon the other side of the lot.

l5. In .a service station, the combination of a relatively narrowservice station lot, a pair of turntables closely associated located onsaid lot one to the rear of the other, a distributing station betweenthe turntables in position adjacent kthe turntables, means for rotatingthev front turntable through and means. for rotating the rear turntableless than 180 to allow motor vehicles going onto and leaving the rearturntable to pass on the sides of a motor vehicle positioned on thefront turntable, whereby one of said tables may be positioned at anangle to said distributing station to allow vehicles to move onto saidtable and leave said table on either side of said distributing station,the relative widths oi tables and lot requiring passage of at least partof the vehicle over the tables in entering and leaving, and the vehiclesadapted to enter and pass on one side of the lot and leave on the otherside of the lot.

16. In a service station, the combination of a relatively narrow servicestation lot, a pair of closely associated turntables located on said lotone to the rear of the other, a distributing station between theturntables and adjacent the turntables, means for rotating the frontturntable to turn a motor vehicle thereon around so that it may leavethe service station, and means for rotating the rear turntable to allowmotor vehicles going onto and leaving the rear turntable to pass on thesides oi the motor vehicle positioned on the front turntable, wherebyone of said tables may be positioned at an angle with reference to saiddistributing station to allow said vehicles to move onto said table fromone side of said distributing station, the relative widths of tables andlot requiring passage of at least part of the vehicle over the tables inentering and leaving, and the vehicles adapted to enter and pass on oneside oi the lot and leave on the other side of the lot.

JOSEPH ALEXANDER DUNN.

